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Match Report

Report: Wanderers 1 Chelsea 5

Chelsea demonstrated their title credentials running out 5-1 winners against Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.

Daniel Sturridge, making his first return to Wanderers since his fruitful loan spell last term, bagged a brace, whilst Frank Lampard went home with the match ball after netting a hat-trick.

Consolation for the home fans was an improved second half showing in which Dedryck Boyata netted his first goal for the club, whilst substitute Chris Eagles also rattled Petr Cech's right hand post.

Owen Coyle made five changes to the starting line-up that had previously taken to the field against Arsenal, two of which were enforced. Boyata took the place of the suspended David Wheater whilst Adam Bogdan filled in for the injured Jussi Jaaskelainen.

And the Wanderers rearguard was breached after just 92 seconds by a familiar face. Sturridge was the scorer, diverting a downward header into the net from Juan Mata's corner, but refusing to celebrate as a mark of respect following his recent temporary stint in BL6.

After regrouping, David Ngog managed a notable attempt in the direction of Cech. The Frenchman, fully fit following a bout of concussion sustained at the Emirates the previous week, wriggled away from John Terry before firing wide of the target when slightly off balance.

For Chelsea, Sturridge was very much at the hub of all things positive, and it was his vision and guile that helped tee up Lampard for the visitor's second goal of the afternoon.

Finding space in the right channel, Sturridge jinked back onto his favoured left foot, before rolling the ball to the onrushing Lampard who duly swept into the net from just inside the area.

Darren Pratley was unlucky not to connect with Martin Petrov's whipped corner, before Andre Villas-Boas' men made it three and four with quickfire goals in the space of two minutes.

First, Sturridge doubled his tally for the afternoon, but in rather fortuitous circumstances, as a dipping effort from the angle of the penalty area eluded Bogdan at his near post and crept into the net. Again, there was no celebration from the Chelsea frontman.

Before Wanderers had chance to gather themselves it was four. David Luiz galloped forward from the right-back area, before unleashing a speculative effort from all of 30 yards which escaped the grasp of Bogdan, with Lampard on hand to dispatch the rebounds.

As the dust eventually settled on what had been a chaotic opening half hour, Ngog persisted in his efforts to get Wanderers off the mark with a mazy run from inside his own that was only halted by a fine challenge from Luiz.

The remainder of the opening half petered out, and after the interval Coyle's charges flew out of the traps in an attempt to claw their way back into the game.

In doing so, Boyata reduced arrears with his first goal for the club, rising to head home Petrov's sweeping free-kick from the left side immediately after the second half's resumption.

That goal sparked further pressure from Wanderers, with Ngog again leading the line admirably up top.

But as the Trotters went in search of a route back into the game, Chelsea scored their fifth on the counter-attack. The clinical Lampard netted his third goal of the afternoon, in not too dissimilar fashion to his opening strike, this time taking a touch following Didier Drogba's cutback before sliding the ball into Bogdan's far corner from just inside the area.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Kevin Davies almost reduced the deficit to three, but saw his low effort cleared off the line by substitute Branislav Ivanovic following smart play from Petrov down the right.

As time ticked away, Sturridge fired into the side netting following a quick Chelsea throwvbefore Eagles demonstrated superb technique in rattling the post with a rasping drive from all 30 yards.

The Whites now turn their attentions to a game in two weeks' time away at Wigan Athletic following an international break.